For Sunday, December
2, 2018, 1st Sunday of Advent Yr C, Readings: Jeremiah
33:14-16, Ps 25: 1-9, 1 Thessalonians 3:9-13, Luke 21-25-36
In those days and at that time I will cause a
righteous Branch to spring up for David; and he shall execute justice and
righteousness in the land. [Jeremiah
33:15]
To you, O Lord, I lift up my soul…I put my trust in
you…let the treacherous be disappointed in their schemes…Show me your ways and
teach me your paths. [Psalm 25:1a, 2b, 3]
Now may our God and Father himself and our Lord Jesus direct our way to you. [1 Thessalonians 3:11]
Now may our God and Father himself and our Lord Jesus direct our way to you. [1 Thessalonians 3:11]
…my words will not pass away. Be on guard that your hearts are not weighed
down with…the worries of this life, and that day catch you unexpectedly like a
trap. [Luke
21:33, 34]
Happy New Year! That is, a New Church Year. The liturgical season
of Advent begins this Sunday in many denominations of Christianity. These
four weeks are a time of soulful preparation through self-reflection, repentance,
and the expectant waiting for the Nativity, the birth, of Jesus. It is a time
for us to start over, to unburden our hearts from the weight of worldly worries,
and to renew our commitment to a regular pattern of prayer, worship, and
sincere Christian action. It is time to remember to answer the call to increase and abound in love for one another,
to restore our faith, and to be ready for that
day that will come for us all. If we are not alert, that day may arrive unexpectedly,
like a trap, and catch us unprepared.
Too often we are caught up in the earthly distractions of the tinsel and
trappings, the busy and the bustling of celebrating as if THAT DAY, the one in
which we are each called on account, will never happen. And yet, it most
certainly will. Christ will come again – will I be ready?
The word advent is from
the Latin adventus which means coming,
and we will mark each week by the lighting of a candle in an Advent Wreath with a prayerful reflection before the Liturgy (the Mass or the
Service) begins. Each candle represents a theme from the readings of that week.
Some people will also use an Advent Calendar to mark each day of the week with
a special prayer or meditation on the theme. Advent is the opportunity to be
more intentional about preparing for the arrival of Jesus, our Savior.
This week’s theme is Hope. In
yet another year that the lives of millions have been decimated across the
world by torrential rains, earthquakes, horrific fires, and the devastating violence
wrought by humans, it does give pause and perhaps a sharp inhalation of breath
and wonder about what could be next. Never have we needed hope more than now.
As in every liturgical season of the Church,
each of our readings give us insight and instruction to ponder and enlighten us
for the week ahead. This week Jesus tells us that his words will never pass away no matter what else happens. Through
prayer and attention to our call, we will be ready to stand before the Son of Man. Our Hope truly is in the name and
substance of the Lord, and, in our willingness to turn the thoughts and actions
of our lives toward the light of God's presence now and to come.
It's definitely not easy to get back on the right course, especially at
this time of year with all the false glitter that obscures our inner vision and
diverts us from our good intentions. But our path forward begins to clear when
we are sincere in our desire to dedicate our lives to Christ, and made easier
in faith-filled communities earnest in preparation for his return. Archbishop
Desmond Tutu said, “Hope is being able to see that there is light despite all
the darkness.” We light this week’s candle of Hope to brighten the way ahead and
to know that All the paths of the Lord are love and faithfulness to those
who keep his covenant and his testimonies. [Psalm 25:9] Hope is on first and we begin with
the end in mind.
LET US, GOD’S PEOPLE, PRAY
Leader: ~
Gracious and Upright Lord, lift up our souls, our
hearts, and our minds from the lowest valley of earthly worries to the highest
vault of heavenly grandeur. Teach us the prayers, the patience, and the trust
to stay alert, unafraid, and ready for our salvation through Christ.
Lord of Love and Faithfulness
RESPONSE: Direct our way to You
~ Gracious
and Upright Lord, bring gifts of
truth, righteousness, and justice to those who govern across the breadth and
depth of Your Creation, globally and locally, and let the treacherous be
disappointed in their schemes. We pray especially for: add your own petitions
Lord of Love and Faithfulness
Direct our way to You
~
Gracious and Upright Lord, soothe
and heal all who suffer with chronic illness and those who have lost all hope,
and grant respite and renewal to their caregivers. We now join our voices to
pray aloud for those in need…
Lord of Love and Faithfulness
Direct our way to You
~ Gracious
and Upright Lord, comfort the
bereaved with a foretaste of the glory of everlasting Salvation in which our
loved ones live again and always. We pray
especially for:
Lord of Love and Faithfulness
Direct our way to You
~ Gracious and Upright Lord, we pause in this moment to offer You our other heartfelt
thanksgivings, intercessions, petitions, and memorials, aloud or silently… add your own petitions
Lord of Love and Faithfulness
Direct our way to You
~ Gracious
and Upright Lord, quicken the energy and
spirit of those anointed to deepen our faith on our journey together with
strength of heart and love for all. We pray especially for: add your own petitions
Lord of Love and Faithfulness
Direct our way to You
The
Celebrant adds: Most Holy Jesus, as we enter this season of preparation
and waiting, fill us with Your forever words, and keep us open to Your Presence
now and the promise of Your Coming. We ask through Jesus, Son of
Man, and the Holy Spirit, Seat of Divine Wisdom, who together with You are One
God, now and forever. Amen.
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